First-aid packet.



1%. 779,266. PATENTED JAN. 3, 1905. w M DAVIS FIRST AID PACKET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22, 1904.

. W INVENTO/x:

UNITED STATES Patented January 3, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. DAVIS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SEABURY & JOHNSON, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FIRST-AID PACKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part 01 Letters Patent No. 779,266, dated January 3, 1905. Application filed January 22, 1904. Serial No- 190,176.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in First-Aid Packets, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to what are known as first-aid or emergency packets carried by soldiers or others exposed to danger and containing antiseptic compresses, bandages, and other appliances for use in the first dressing of wounds.

The first-aid packets heretofore generally in use have been provided with wrappers of cloth coated with rubber or wrappers of Mackintosh cloth, which is more or less waterproof, and on the outside of which Wrappers was printed a list of the contents of the packets, with directions for use. These old-style firstaid packets have not always given entire satisfaction, in that they have not been sufliciently tight, and consequently not as waterproof and germ-proofas they should be, and this has been particularly the case with packets used in hot and moist climates, where the climatic influences have a deteriorating or rotting effect on the rubber of the wrappers, so that the contents of the packets became after a time more or less exposed to contamination andinfection by disease germs. I The objections above referred to are obviated by the present invention, which provides a first-aid packet with a wrapper which is absolutely waterproof or moisture-proof, which is not subject to deterioration by atmospheric influences in warm and moist climates, which is sufiiciently strong and tough to resist the wear to which it may be subjected, and which can be quickly and conveniently opened when an emergency occurs which requires the use of the contents of the packet. I

To this end the wrapper of the improved packetconsists of a sheet of tough and flexible substance'which is entirely Water-resisting and which is preferably of celluloid or some similar cellulose compound and in which the packet is enveloped by-a proper folding of the wrapper, and when this has been done the joints of the wrapperare hermetically sealed by a waterproof or water-resisting adhesive, which will preferably be a solution of celluloid or cellulose substance and which when dried will not lose its adherent qualities by any amount of exposure to atmospheric heat or moisture. The packet is preferably provided beneath the waterproof wrapper with an encircling cord or small flexible wire,

the end of which protrudes slightly through an opening made therefor in the wrapper and which opening is afterward hermetically sealed, and when it is desired to open the packet the protruding end of the cord or wire will be seized,and by pulling thereon the-wrapper will be cut,'so that it can be quickly and easily undone. Also to hold the packet in shape its edges are preferably encircled beneath the waterproof Wrapper by a band of somewhat stiff and preferably Waterproof material, which may be celluloid or vulcanized fiber about the thickness of somewhat thin cardboard.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are opposite side perspective views of a first-aid packet embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the packet A, consisting of the usual antiseptic compresses, bandages, &c., compactly folded, is enveloped in a waterproof or moisture-proof wrapper 6, consisting, preferably, of a thin sheet of celluloid closely folded about the same and having its joints carefully sealed by a Waterproof adhesive, which may be a solution of celluloid or other similar cellulose material, as collodion, and which when dried is entirely waterproof,

so that the joints of the packet cannot become loosened by moisture. This waterproof wrapper of celluloid is transparent, so that a label 0, containing a list of the contents of the packet and directions for use, is entirely legible through the wrapper. The label is thus protected, so that the directions for use cannot become-obliterated, as is liable to occur with the first-aid packets now in ruse'and having the directions printed on the outside of the wrappers. I

The edges of thepacket are preferably stifl:'-

ened to keep the packet in shape when sub-, jected to rough usage by a stiffeningencircling silk or linen or a small flexible wire, one end of which, as f, will be protruded through an aperture in the wrapper and which aperture will then be hermetically sealed. In case of emergency the packet may be quickly opened by seizing the protruding end of the cord or wire and pulling on the same, thereby cutting the waterproof wrapper, which will then be capable of instant removal.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A first-aid packet provided with a transparent wrapperhermetically sealed with a waterproofadhesivercombined with a label beneath said wrapper and visible through the same, and a flexible encircling support and opening device also beneath said Wrapper and having an end which protrudes through said wrapper solthat it may be seized to cut the wrapper and thus quickly open the packet in an emergency. I

2; A' first-aid packet provided with a transparent wrapper hermetically sealed with a waterproof adhesive, combined with a label beneath said wrapper and visible through the same, and a flexible encircling support and opening device also beneath said wrapper and having an end which protrudes through said wrapper so that it may be seized to cut the wrapper and thus quickly open the packet in an emergency, said packet being flat in form and having around its edges an encircling stidening-band which'serves to keep the packet in shape when subjected to rough usage.

In testimony whereof I affix my Signature in presence of two witnesses.

- WILLIAM. M. DAVIS. Witnesses:

A. W. (JooN, S. W; WILLIAMS. 

